HIST 110
US History from Reconstruction
Fall 2014 C o u r s e Guide & Syllabus, Pt. 1 of 2
Instructor: Frank Nobiletti
Section 04
Class Room: LT 161
Class Time: Tue/Thu 12:30pm-1:45pm
Rev/ Aug 24 6pm, 2014
HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
CONTRACT PAGE
Your Class Number: ________________________
Return this page to teacher on paper by second day of second week. Penalty for noncompliance: minus 20
final grade points.
I have read and understand the full syllabus for History 110 and accept all the requirements and
regulations. Further, I will make my best effort to read the assignments and participate.
Signed ________________________________________________________
Print Name _____________________________________________________
Date ______________________________________
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
Table of Contents
§1
Useful Information
4
1.1 Class Contract (Read, Sign & Return to Front Desk in 2nd Week) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. 2
1.2. Office, Office Hours, & Contact I n f o r m a t i o n . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3. Your “Class Partners” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 4
1.4. Texts and Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4.1. Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4.2 The ONLY way to properly REGISTER YOUR CLICKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4.3. Optional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.5. Class Website on Blackboard (What’s Where) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
§2
Course Description
6
2.1. Course Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2. Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.3. Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.4. Turnitin . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.5. SDSU Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.6. SDSU Academic Honesty Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.7 Plagiarism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 9
2.8. Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . 9
2.9. Students with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 9
§3
Assignments & Grading
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3.1. R e q u i r e d Outside Video Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.1.1. Outside Video Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.1.2. List of Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2. Online Quizzes and Clicker Question. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.3. Exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.4. Term Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.5. M i c r o A s s i g n m e n t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3 . 6 . Extra Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.7. Participation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.8. Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.9. Tips to Succeed in This Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
§4
S y l l a b u s P a r t 2 : Class Calendar: Topics, Readings, and Due Dates (separate handout)
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
§1. Useful Information
1.1.
Office and O f f i c e H o u r s
Office Location: Arts and Letters 555
Office Hours: (Preferably b y appointment) T h ursday 5:10 p m-6:1 5pm at 555 AL ,
and Tue/Thu 1:45pm-2:30pm in or alongside of Little Theater161.
Additional individual times can be arranged.
1.2.
Contact Information
Telephone: (619) 594-2266 (I am in my office to answer phone messages once a week, on
Thursday.)
With over 400 students I cannot converse by email re class mechanics; instead of emailing, first,
of course, confer with your class partners and/or look at this Syllabus/Course Guide PT 1.
See me right after class to ask any question, or we can make an in person or phone appointment on
the spot if you need one.
I do welcome any email from you on suggestions for the course, or on your ideas about the history
we are studying.
Note: Any truly emergency or urgent email must have your name and class day at the top.
1.3. Your “Class Partners”
If you are absent or in need of another copy of something that w a s sent to you, it is your
obligation to contact a “class partner” for information on what you missed or are missing.
This includes handouts, announcements, assignments, and lecture notes.
Make a list of your class partners b e l o w :
Name
Email
Phone
1.
2.
3.
4.
So, exchange phone numbers and/or email with at least two classmates now! They will be
your class partners. If you email me for information without first emailing and asking your
class partners, you will be docked one point the first time and two points for subsequent
times on whatever assignment or issue is being discussed.
If after asking your two class partners b y email, you still do not have the answer, send me
the question and forward the two emails you have sent to your class partners with their
names and emails. I will be happy to answer all reasonable questions then. I cannot be the
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
point person for all initial emails on what announcements were missed in class or missed
while reading the syllabus, or the notes you missed when absent.
On the other hand, I am always glad to hear you thoughts, ideas, and suggestions on the
topics and the structure of the course, and questions about the course material—but not the
mechanics that we have gone over or are in the syllabus until you have asked each of your
class partners.
1.4.
Texts and Ma t e r i a l s
1.4.1. Required
1. Give Me Liberty! : An American History, Volume Two, Brief 4th Edition, by Eric Foner,
2014, pub. W.W.Norton
2. Voices of Freedom, Volume Two, 4th Edition, by Eric Foner.
3. Gangs of America: The Rise of Corporate Power and the Disabling of Democracy
by Ted Nace, (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2003) or available online for free at
http://www.gangsofamerica.com/gangsofamerica.pdf
4. I-clicker (Some students have gotten them cheaper on line, including ebay. Be sure you get
the most recent type available in the bookstore.)
Important suggestion: tape YOUR NAME on your I-clicker so you don’t accidently bring
your roommates! There will also be assorted handouts o f news articles, etc. At various
times in the semester.
1.4.2. IMMPORTANT!!!!! REGISTERING YOUR I CLICKER THE ONLY WAY THAT
WORKS FOR SDSU:
Go to your Blackboard home page. From the menu on the left click on the uppermost link which says:
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Clicker Registration You MUST use this method
Enter your CLICKER ID (found on the Clicker itself)
Then click Submit, AND WAIT until it confirms that the submission is successful. Do not
leave page before that!
Do not follow the method give on the box the clicker came in. It does not work at SDSU.
If you do not properly register your clicker, you will lose AT LEAST half of the attendance or quiz credit
STARTING The 3rd class.
Note: For your paper you will choose one book for the course on sale at Aztec Shops from
a list posted on Blackboard/Syllabus Folder.
1.4.3. Optional (For Reference)
Only if you do not have a style manual—it will help you document your paper properly: A
Pocket Style Manual, Third Edition (or Fourth Edition) by Diana Hacker, (Bedford- St.
Martins, 2 0 0 0 ) If you are very familiar with grammar and documentation (using Chicago
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
style) you may get by referring to Hackers website, which has a sample pa- per with
documentation. See http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/history/pdf/ HackerBish-CMS.pdf.
If you have Keys for Writers, F o u r t h Edition by Ann Raimes, you can use it instead of
Hacker.
1.5.
Class Website on Blackboard (What’s where)
This class will make extensive use of Blackboard, at http://blackboard.sdsu.edu. Find
our course number under the list of your classes to access the course web site.
The Syllabus, Film Lists (Including films for Extra Credit), and Term Paper Guidelines will be
posted under “Syllabus” section on the course Blackboard page.
Be sure the registrar’s office (via Web Portal) has your current email.
If you use Hotmail, or a similar provider, be sure your spam filter does not reject
Blackboard’s emails. SDSU will give you a free email address if you like.
BlackBoard Gradebook: If you see an exclamation point “!” in “My Grades,” t h a t simply
means that the assignment has been s u c c e s s f u l l y submitted by you. It does not
necessarily mean that t h e assignment has not been graded; it just may not be posted yet.
Problems With Blackboard or Turnitin? There is a complete Help Site on Blackboard. Click
the “help” button on the top of the main page. It will also list the helpline phone number
so you can call. Still have problems? Go to or call the Student Computer C e n t e r in the
Love Library at (619) 594-3189.
§2. Course Description
2.1. Course Description
This course will look at the history of the United States and Native nations since Reconstruction
after the Civil War. Issues involving freedom, power, class, and their interaction with race,
ethnicity, gender, and sexuality; work and production; population growth, climate change and the
environment, urbanization, imperialism, democracy, foreign relations and globalization will be
analyzed in the contexts of geography, technology, culture, law, and social history. By
understanding more about the past, the goal is to produce insight into how we got to where we are
today, and to glimpse at where we might go in the future -- what our choices and our limits are.
The course will put special emphasis on two themes. First —we will look at the effect on
Americans of various forms of power: particularly the rise of corporate power, but also
constitutional, electoral, social, economic, military, personal, and discursive (including the media.)
We will try to see how power is variously packaged, how hegemony is formed, how power shapes,
or even creates, “reality”. Second and deeply related of course, we will look at Americans’
understandings of freedom — how freedoms and rights have been conceptualized, fought for, won
and lost in different time periods, as well as the historical tension between individual freedom and
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
the desire for community.
Finally, one important goal of this course is that you emerge from at the end of the semester a
better writer. To that end we will put significant emphasis on writing skills.
2.2. Goals and O b j e c t i v e s
By the completion of this course, you should be able to:
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Trace the historical roots and development of a number of our contemporary economic,
social, political, technological and ecological patterns, predicaments and possibilities.
Understand some of the historical roles played by such factors as culture, environment,
economics, technology, class structures, race, gender, and sexuality.
Discover and pursue some of your own questions, those which you find most important or
interesting.
(Hopefully) glimpse some potential solutions to problems, and see a key role for yourselves
and your society in solving them.
Understand how cultures’ biases, past and present, have influenced interpretations of world
history.
Understand history as a disciplined, evidence based interpretation of the past rather than a
mere listing of names, dates and events.
Interrogate both primary and secondary sources within their historical contexts.
Improve your research, analytical and writing skills.
2.3. Procedures
• “ F L I P P I N G ” t h e P o w e r p oi n t s i n t o h o m e w or k :
P e r io d ic a l l y w e w i l l fl i p th e c la ss p o w e r p oi n t s e tc . s o t ha t
y o u w i l l re vi e w s o m e po w e r po i nt s a t ho m e so c la s s t i m e c a n
b e u se d f or y ou r q u e s ti o n s a nd di s c u s s i on . Y ou w i l l b e
n o t i fi e s w he n w e w il l do t h i s .
C L A S S N U M B E R S : y o u w i l l be g iv e n a c la s s nu m be r a ft e r
S e p t 8 . Y ou m u s t p u t i t o n yo u r te r m pa pe r a n d fin a l a nd
a n yt h in g e l s e y ou h a n d in o n pa pe r .
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All submissions must be double spaced.
Anytime you submit a n yt h i n g —including any paper or note—it must h a v e your
name and class day/hour in the upper right-hand corner.
You must staple any paper submission of more than one page! You will lose credit
2 points (or 5 percent of the assignment) each time you don’t.
If a paper copy is required, to save a tree or two you should use paper that has
been already used on the other side for the term paper or final. If you do, you will
receive an extra 1 percent on that particular grade. Conserve resources and
preserve your future.
Student Use of Electronic Devices in the Classroom: Laptop or tablet use is
encouraged. The use of all other electronic devices in the classroom is prohibited. That
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
means turn off all other electronic devices. This rule is enforced to help remove
distractions from other students and create a better learning environment for everyone.
If this rule is not followed the student may be asked to leave the classroom and will
receive an absence for the day.
Recording of lectures is permitted only with the express, written consent of the professor,
obtained before the given lecture(s).
2.4. Blackboard’sTurnitin
This is the web site where you will deposit your film write-ups, extra credit write-ups, term
paper, and final exam. Please go to the ITS Plagiarism w e b s i t e : http://its.sdsu.edu/
tech/plagiarism.html
There is a section on Turnitin for students—download the manual and tips for students
about submitting your docs to Turnitin within your Blackboard course. (A paper copy of
the Term Paper and Final Exam might also be required. Stay tuned.)
No paper copies of Outside video questions and extra credit submissions are needed, only
electronic submissions via Turnitin.)
If you have any trouble with Turnitin, contact the Student Computing Center in Love Library
at [email protected] or (619) 594-3819. You may also go to the Student Help Desk. They
are there to help you on any Turnitin problems. Let me know if that doesn’t work. Also,
apparently you are better off using Mozilla Firefox as your browser to upload files; and that
also works for sure if the file is in .doc format.
2.5. SDSU Statement
Students agree that b y taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission
for textual similarity review to Turnitin for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted
papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin reference database solely for the
purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way
that no identifying information about yo u is included. Another option is that y o u may
request, in writing, that y o u r papers not be submitted to Turnitin. However, if you
choose this option you will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that the
papers are your original work and do not include any plagiarized material.
2.6. SDSU Academic Honesty Policy
(The University has requested that w e include the University’s Academic Honesty Policy in
the syllabus)
Institutions of higher education are founded to impart knowledge, seek truth, and encourage
one’s development for the good of society. University students shall thus be intellectually
and morally obliged to pursue their course of studies with honesty and integrity. Therefore,
in preparing and submitting materials for academic courses and in taking examinations, a
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
student shall not yield to cheating or plagiarism, which not only violate academic standards
but also make the offender liable to penalties explicit in Title 5.
Cheating shall be defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic
work by the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Examples of cheating include,
but are not limited to (a) copying, in part or in whole, from another’s test or other
examination; (b) discussing answers or ideas relating to the answers on a test or other
examination
without the permission of the instructor; (c) obtaining copies of a test, an examination,
or other course material without the permission of the instructor; (d) using notes, cheat
sheets, or other devices considered inappropriate under the prescribed testing condition; (e)
collaborating with another or others in work to be presented without the permission of the
instructor; (f ) falsifying records, laboratory work, or other course data; (g) submitting work
previously presented in another course, if contrary to the rules of the course; (h) altering or
interfering with the grading procedures; (i) plagiarizing, as defined; and (j) knowingly and
intentionally assisting another student in any of the above.
2.7. Plagiarism
shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another,
whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the University
as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements without giving credit to the
appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work, either
in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas, statements, facts,
or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation marks when quoting directly
from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy
paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e) submitting another person’s artistic works, such
as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f ) submitting
as one’s own work papers purchased from research companies.
2.8. Attendance
Attendance will be incorporated with I-clicker questions (2 reading questions = 2 pts + 1 pt
automatically for attendance) B r i n g y o u r I - c l i c k e r t o e a c h c l a s s . If you are
absent, or if you need another copy of something that was sent to you, it is your
obligation to contact your “class partner” for information on what you missed or are
missing (e.g., handouts, announcements, assignments, lecture notes). (See syl. sect.1.3)
Attention: Be sure you have registered your i-clicker via blackboard properly by the 2nd
week’s first class. See above Sect 1.4.2 for exact process! DO not follow the procedure on
the i-clicker box! (Sorry; doesn’t work for SDSU.)
2.9. Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any
delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as
soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an
accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
§ 3 Assignments & Grading
4.1.
Outside Video Assignments
There are three (3) o u t -of-class video assignments:
You must see three videos from the list in the following section. All are in the Media Center
in the Love Library ( basement of the Library D om e ), some are available online or via
Netflix, etc. There are six films on the list you can pick from.
Note: If you do more videos from the list below than the required three, they turn
automatically into extra credit. Just put the extras in the B l a c k b o a r d Extra Credit
Turnitin folders.
3.1.1. R e q u i r e d Outside Video Instructions
• Create questions: For each film, come up with a list of 3 original multiple choice
questions—with the correct answer marked—and 2 true/false questions—with the
correct answers highlighted.
The questions should not be overly picky, but things that a careful viewer would
notice.
The video questions will be graded on a c c u r a c y, quality and range of coverage.
(Choose your various questions to show that you have seen the whole film.) Each film
is worth 3 points of your final grade.
An example of each type (relating to the movie Evolution, Why Sex?):
1. Which experiment indicates that w o m e n pick a mate for his immune system?
(a) T h e Male Ornamentation Experiment
(b) The T shirt Experiment
(c) The Shoe Size Experiment
(d) t h e Red Queen Experiment
(e) Both (a) & (d)
2. T/F It is hypothesized that Bonobos and Chimpanzees diverged, one becoming
more sexualized than the other, after a change in feeding patterns.
• Electronically submit together all questions for each film (with the correct
answers identified by highlighting. Put the film title in the filename AND the top of
the write-up.) One film per “Assignment” slot in Turnitin in Blackboard: Go to
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‘Assignments” and pick an electronic folder labeled “Required outside V i d e o s .” It
helps me if you have your name & class time, and you must have film title on the actual
el ect roni c paper as well. Be sure you keep a backup copy.
• Due Dates: See Class Calendar.
• Do not submit a paper copy.
3.1.2. List of Videos
(- to pick from for required outside Videos)
1) American Experience: Hawaii’s Last Queen [Media Center VTC-4645 60 min.]
2) People’s Century: Killing Fields: The First World War: 1914-1919 [Media Center VTC
361 Tape 2]
3) Frontline: Merchants of Cool. [Media Center]
4) Frontline: The Age of Aids [Media Center DVD-246 4 disks. 4 hours Watch any 1 hour.]
Brilliant. You can test the waters by just watching the first disk, then see if you also want to
do others for extra credit. (Also available free as streaming vi d eo on
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/aids/ but since it is long you may prefer seeing it on
a bigger screen on DVD.)
5) The L i f e of Bayard R u s t i n [ Online at http://www.logotv.com/video/brother-outsider-the-life-ofbayard-rustin/1600849/playlist.jhtml. Media Center DVD-1967, (2003) 83 min. About the gay
African American who taught Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi nonviolence, and
organized the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington.]
6) Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers [Media Center DVD-2994]
3.2. Online Self-Study and In-Class Clicker Question
Online Self-Study Questions
There will be online Foner chapter self-administered question sets based on the assigned
Foner chapter readings. Each set consists of 5 multiple choice and true/false questions.
The due dates are marked on the class calendar. You can access each of these quizzes
within Blackboard one week before the due dates; they must be answered one hour before
class. Look under Weekly Assignments, and then open the corresponding week.
In-Class Clicker Questions
Most classes have 2 I-clicker questions which have the same format as online quizzes. The dates
are marked on the class calendar, so be sure to have your I-clicker available when the time
comes. These questions will be based on ALL the assigned readings.
All these points + 1 pt for clicking in, will be added up at the end of the semester. Your total
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points divided by the total possible of these points will equal the % of the 20pts you will have
earned as part of your final grade.
3.3. Final Exam
The Final Exam and Term Paper will expect you to make explicit use of lectures,
discussions, guest lectures, in-class presentations and debates, in-class films, and
readings, including articles sent to you. Lectures will often parallel or overlap the
readings, but will not aim at a reiteration of the text. I t m a y b e a t a k e h o m e
e x a m . You will be given a study sheet for any in-class written final.
Take H ome final exam or any at-home write-ups: You may not share your exam
materials or essay drafts with any classmate before handing the paper in unless specifically
OKed by instructor. Nor may you read theirs before handing yours in.
3.4. Term Paper
You are required to write a 3.5 page term paper (not counting endnotes, & bibliography) which will
be due in the tenth w e e k . Paper copies MAY be required (stay tuned) and the term paper
must be put in B l a c k b o a r d ’ s Turnitin. Specific guidelines for the paper will be posted
on Blackboard, and I will announce when it is posted. Be sure to carefully read the
guidelines. We can discuss potential approaches in class, and in some cases, papers may be
presented to the class for additional credit.
A list of books for the term paper to choose one from is posted on BBd/Syl folder, and you
must analyze it in terms of the issues and readings on the topic we have in class or on the
syllabus. If the book is over 350 pages you can come to me to have parts you can skip.
Important: College-level English grammar, punctuation, and writing skills are an inherent
part of what is expected in your paper. If you have writing problems, use this paper to work
on them. Use the tutoring services, classmates with good writing skills, etc. to proofread and
advice.
EOPS students: You have free tutoring s e r v i c e s to help you edit your paper. It is a
great asset for your education and grade, and I encourage you to use it.)
3.5 Micro Assignments
You will have a series of Micro Assignments which will be posted the week before on blackboard.
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
They will be very short and will include such things as: current event article sent to you; current
event articles you select; Scenario Questions submitted by you for the class via clickers. These will
be the basis for pair, group, and class interactions.
To have an informed discussion, you will be asked to post by 1 hour before class and bring in a
typed short paragraph or questions. The goal here is to provide a variety of activities for our classes
to keep it active, fresh and interesting with your input. You will only get credit if you are in class
for discussion of the assignment.
3.6 Extra Credit
As stated above, various extra credit possibilities will be made available, including films
that are in the Media Center in Love Library.
Refer to Outside Video Assignments f o r d e t a i l s on how to do the write up, but for these,
please add a very short paragraph evaluating the value and interest of this video for you.
No paper copy is needed unless explicitly stated o t h e r w i s e . All extra credit must be
uploaded to Turnitin by the last class of the fourteenth w e e k . No exceptions! (Generally, one
extra credit video adds .5 points to your Final Class Grade.)
An in-class presentation based on the term paper may also be given for extra credit. See me
early if you are interested. No more than two will be allowed.
3.7. Participation
Participation is worth 2pts of final grade. You start out given one of the 2 pts. This can go up with
useful participation or decrease (even down to 0 out of 2 if you cannot answer if called upon due to
absence or lack of preparation for class.
3.8. Grading
Micro Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8%
Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2%
Three outside video write-ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
On line Foner chapter questions, in-class clicker questions. & attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20%
Term paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
Final exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
Extra credit normally adds 0.5 points per film to your final grade.
Extra Credit is all graded at the END of the semester, after the end of classes. Outside video
three, as well, is graded at the END of the semester. Outside Video #1 will be graded as soon
as possible, so you can see if you are on the right track. Outside Videos.
Checking Turnitin for Plagiarism, AND to see if they have been submitted to Turnitin, is
typically done at the END of the semester. If the “Originality Report” is beyond the required
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
limit (not counting book titles etc) grades will be docked then.
A note on grades: Quoted from the SDSU Academic Senate Policy:
A = Outstanding Achievement
B = Praiseworthy performance
C = Satisfactory Performance, the most common undergraduate grade
D = Minimally Passing
F = Failing
Also: The minimum Grade for CR in Cr/NCR is a C (or 73 numerically)
3.9.
§4
Tips to Succeed in This Class

Take Notes: This class uses lecture, film, and discussion. You are expected to
actively engage this material, including taking notes. You will be given
PowerPoints, etc. that will be used in class. Additional terms will be written on
the board. These will provide an outline and key terms, but the outlines are in no
way sufficient notes for the class lectures or the films.

I M P O R T A N T : Simply because we are in a conversational or question and
answer mode, it does not mean that n o t e taking should cease. Always have a
pen in hand or a keyboard at the ready! Take thorough notes, compare them
with class- mates, and review and revise your notes after each class. (Best way to
get an A.)

Do the readings: The secret to doing the readings is to start i mmediately when
you get time after the class. If you at least promise yourself the habit of opening
the book and starting for at least 10 minutes (and then stopping if you want to)
you will have cracked the ice. You will find it much easier to get the reading done.
Do this every day, if necessary. Do not let it bunch up till the last minute. Move
on, skim if necessary, and take advantage of your class partners if you don’t
understand or like it.

What does it mean when it says skim? It means at least know something about
the reading. This can generally be done by reading the first several sentences
next to the headings. Another approach is to read the first and last sentence of
each paragraph. For those chapters that have chapter/lecture notes in the class
packet, use the outlines as guidelines to see what the teacher is emphasizing.

Remember, a NOVEL is fiction. A NON fiction book is not
a novel! You will lose credit if you call a non-fiction book a
novel in any class assignment (-2 pts)
Class Calendar
Class Calendar: Topics, Readings, and D u e Dates
See separate document on Blackboard (Syllabus Part 2)
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HIST 110. US History From Reconstruction
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